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Entrepreneur Support & Business Consulting Programme: Occupational Certificate – Small Business Consultant
SAQA ID: 118741 | Credits: 244 | Duration: 18 Months | Accredited by: Services SETA | NQF Level: 5 | Entry Requirements: NQF Level 4 qualification
Become a trusted advisor to small businesses. This 18-month qualification equips learners with the skills to evaluate business performance, guide entrepreneurs, implement change management, and offer strategic consulting. Ideal for individuals who want to support business growth, improve operational efficiency, and contribute to economic development.
Description
✅ Purpose and Rationale
This qualification prepares learners to operate as Small Business Consultants, offering strategic and operational guidance to entrepreneurs and small enterprises. Consultants play a vital role in helping businesses grow, become sustainable, and contribute to job creation and community resilience.
Learners will be equipped to:
- Evaluate their own consulting capabilities
- Conduct due diligence and ensure legal compliance
- Assess business performance and owner readiness
- Provide strategic and operational consulting
- Implement change management frameworks
- Develop project plans and improve value chain efficiency
The programme responds to the growing demand for skilled consultants in South Africa’s SMME sector and supports national goals for economic growth and employment.
📘 Qualification Rules
The qualification is structured into three components:
Knowledge Modules (93 credits):
Covering topics such as:
- Regulatory frameworks and compliance
- Entrepreneurial profiles and business development
- Marketing, finance, costing, and pricing
- Tendering, ethics, communication, and change management
- Project management and value chain analysis
Practical Skills Modules (55 credits):
Including:
- Personal capability evaluation
- Due diligence and compliance checks
- Business performance monitoring
- Strategic consulting and change implementation
- Project planning and value chain interpretation
Work Experience Modules (96 credits):
Real-world application of:
- Consulting procedures
- Compliance audits
- Business appraisal
- Change management execution
- Project implementation
- Operational efficiency improvements
🎯 Exit Level Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Assess their own readiness and capability for consulting
- Conduct due diligence and ensure legal compliance
- Evaluate business performance and owner capacity
- Deliver strategic and operational consulting services
- Implement change management structures
- Develop and manage project implementation
- Analyse and improve value chain components
🌍 International Comparability
Benchmarked against:
- New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) – Focused on accounting and leadership
- UK Diploma in Business Support (Level 5) – Focused on client relationships and business support
Compared to these, the South African qualification is more comprehensive, offering 244 credits and covering a broader range of business consulting competencies. It integrates theory, practical skills, and workplace experience, making it a robust and multi-faceted programme.
🔗 Articulation Options
- Horizontal Articulation:
- National Certificate: Business Analysis Support Practice (NQF Level 5)
- National Diploma: Business Consulting Practice (NQF Level 5)
- Vertical Articulation:
- National Certificate: Business Advising Operations (NQF Level 6)
- National Certificate: Business Analysis (NQF Level 6)
🧭 Who Should Enrol?
- Aspiring business consultants and advisors
- Entrepreneurs seeking to support other businesses
- Professionals in SEDA, IBASA, or similar organisations
- Individuals aiming to work in private or public sector consulting
- Those looking to specialise in strategy, HR, operations, or financial advisory